Going back home next week and my usual watering hole is Tap & Mallet. Great selection on tap and bottles. It's been a while since I've been home, so what other places should I check out, bars/pubs or breweries? Thank you.
The Tap and Mallet is definitely the best place for beer in the area. In terms of breweries, both are little bit of a drive from the city itself, but Stoneyard Brewing in Brockport (30 min drive) and Prison City in Auburn (hour-ish drive) are both making the best beer in Western New York. If you're not up for the drive, Swift Water Brewing opened in the last year, on Mt. Hope near the U of R, and they're doing some cool stuff. Blu Wolf on Park Ave has a great tap list and good food. The Old Toad is always worth a stop, as is Donnelly's Public House in Fairport. Half Pint on Park Ave is very small, but usually has some interesting stuff on tap. The same goes for The Angry Goat, corner of Clinton and Goodman, super small, but some interesting stuff on tap. For a more divey feel with great beer and great greasy food, Acme Bar and Pizza is your choice.
Great Suggestions above. Blu Wolf has turned into one of my favorites in the area. Basin Pub and Pittsford Pub both also usually have a great tap list. Buta-Pub has a cool vibe and a good list as well. I square and Keenens in Irondequoit are both worth a look as well. If you are looking for bottles and have not been to AJs its a great place to stop.
I would definitely check out Swiftwater. They were very cool there and the brewer was even giving us tastes of stuff that was still in the barrels. They had a DIPA at the time called Brah, that was top notch. Not sure if it was just a trial batch though.
